Tile setting apparatus



Feb. 6, 1962 E. A. ENGELKE TILE SETTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledDec. 30, 1957 8 0 e 3 7% WW0 mm v A m "M m A 4 4 J A TTOIPNE Y5 Feb. 6,1962 A. ENGELKE 3,020,082

TILE SETTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 30, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 18 INVENTOR.

A1? a Fit Y Erma zzye e A TTOKNEYS 3,020,082 TILE SETTING APPARATUSErwin A. Engelke, 1510 Sabine St., Austin, Tex. Filed Dec. 30, 1957,Ser. No. 705,992 8 Claims. (Cl. 29487) This invention relates to tilesetting apparatus, and particularly to a device on which a group ofceramic tiles may be arranged and supported and then applied as a groupto a wall or the like.

In setting tiles on walls, it is customary to first apply a layer ofmastic or cement to the wall and then place the tiles in positionthereon by hand, one at a time. By the present invention applicantprovides a device whereby an entire group of 9, 16, or more tiles may beapplied to the wall, all at one time, thus saving much labor and time.

The invention comprises generally a base plate of a size correspondingto the dimensions of the group of tiles it is desired to set as a unitand means for holding the tiles in place on the base plate. The entiregroup of tiles may then be pressed into the mastic on the wall and thedevice is arranged so that the holding means may then be released sothat the device may be withdrawn from the group of tiles and the latterleft in place, adhered to the mastic or cement on the wall. The holdingmeans, in one form of the invention, consists of a flange extendingforwardly from an element mounted on the rear face of the base plateadjacent its bottom edge to engage and hold the tiles against verticalmovement and further flanges on opposite sides independently movablymounted to engage and clamp the side edges of the group of tiles. Thedevice is provided with handles on the rear face whereby it may besupported and manipulated and manually operable means closely accessibleto the handles whereby the operator may manually withdraw all of theflanges from holding engagement with the tiles to thereby release thetiles from the device after they have been applied to the mastic. It istherefore an object of this invention to provide a holder for a group oftiles to hold the tiles in predetermined group relation and for settingthe same in position in a layer of mastic.

It is another object of this invention toprovide a tile setting deviceas set forth wherein manual means are provided for releasing the tileholding means, which manual means are readily accessible to the hands ofthe operator while supporting and manipulating the device.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tile settingdevice of the type set forth wherein means are provided for properlygrouping and spacing tiles which have locating or spacing lugs thereon.

A. further object of this invention is to provide a tile setting deviceas set forth and which is of simple construction, economical tomanufacture, and reliable and efficient in operation.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art as the description proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a tile setting device of the present inventionshowing a group of tiles thereon in dotted line;

FIG. 2 is a'rear view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line33 of FIG. 2 but on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a different embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5. A preferred form of theinvention is shown in FIGS. 1

3,020,082 Patented Feb. 6, 1962 it is to be understood that anyrectangular shape may be employed, depending on the size and shape ofthe tiles to be set and the number of tiles it is desired to set at onetime. A holding element 8 is pivotally mounted on the rear face of thebase plate 2 on a pivot rod 10 sup.- ported by suitable brackets 12. Thepivot rod 10 extends through openings in ears 14 on the clamping element8. The clamping element 8 is in the form of a plate of stiff sheet metalextending downwardly past the lower edge 16 of the base plate 2 and isthere turned forwardly to form a flange 18 extending forwardly past theedge 16 and beyond the front face 4 of the base plate 2 (see FIG. 3).Suitable compression springs 20 are arranged between the base plate 2and a portion of the element 8 on the opposite side of pivot pin 10 fromthe flange 18. As will be obvious, the compression springs 20 urge theelement 8 to rotate counterclockwise about the pivot 10, as seen in FIG.3, to hold the forward edge portions of the flange 18 in the forwardposition shown in FIG. 3. That portion of the element above the pivot1-0, as seen in FIG. 2, is provided with reinforcing or stiffening ribs22 and with depressed thumb-engaging portions 24.

' The device is further provided with side clamping ele-' ments 26,both. being identical except that one is righthand and the other islefthand. Only one of the elements 26 will be described and it is to beunderstood that both are of the same construction.

Each of the elements 26 comprises a stiff sheet metal plate overlying aportion of the rear face of the base plate 2 adjacent a correspondingside edge 28 of the base plate. Each element 26 is provided with aplurality of elongated slots 30 therein. Referring now to FIG. 4, aplurality of threaded studs 32 extend through thebase plate 2 atpositions corresponding to the'slots Strand extend through those slots.Washers 33 (FIG. 4) are held in spaced relation by a collar 34 and areheld in clamped position surrounding the stud 32 by a suitable nut 36..The diameter of the collar 34 is slightly less than the width of theslot 30 and the length of collar 34. is

slightly greater than the thickness of the plate element 26. As will beobvious from FIG. 4, plate elements 26 are freely slidable on the rearface of the plate 2 in a direction parallel to the front face andperpendicular to the side edges 28.

Each of the plate elements 26 extends outwardly beyond its correspondingedge 23 and is provided at its outer edge with a forwardly extendingflange 38. As best seen in FIG. 3, the flanges 33 terminatesubstantially in the plane of the front face 4 of plate 2 but areprovided with forwardly extending ears 40, integral with the flanges 38and extending a substantial distance forwardly of the front face 4 ofthe plate 2. p

FIG. 1 shows the present invention as viewed from the front and whereina group of ceramic tiles 42 are arranged thereon. The tiles are of thetype, commonly used, having spaced lugs 44 extending from at least 'twoside edges thereof. When the tiles are arrangedwith the extremities ofthe lugs 44 engaging an edge of an adjacent tile, the tiles are heldspaced apart the proper distance to receive sealing mortar therebetweenwhich is applied in a well-known manner after the tiles are set in placeon the wall.

As indicated in FIG. 1, the tiles 42 are placed with their finished orouter faces in contact with the face 4 of base plate 2 and the latter isof such dimensions that the tiles extend at least to the lateral edges28 of the .base

plate and preferably slightly therebeyond. As is clearly evident fromFIG. 1, the ears 40 of flanges 33 engage the side edges of the group oftiles 4-2 with the ears 48 extending between projecting lugs 44 of thetiles on the outer edge of the group on at least one side of the group.Thus, by urging the plate elements 26 inwardly toward each other, theirears 4t) clampingly engage the side edges of tiles on opposite sides ofthe group and positively hold those tiles in the desired relationship.In use, the device is moved toward the Wall to which the tiles are to beapplied in a generally vertical position. The lowermost flange 18 thusacts to support the group of tiles against downward sliding movement.

Referring again to FIG. 2, each of the plate elements 26 is furtherprovided with a deep notch or cut-away portion 46. A pair of handles 43(see FIG. 3) project rearwardly from the rear face of the base plate 2and are mounted thereon for rotary movement about the axis of screws 50,which hold the handles assembled to the base plate. The screws 50 extendforwardly from the rear end of the handles 48 and engage internalthreads of members 52 extending through base plate 2. Each of thehandles 48 is further provided with a generally radially extending pinor arm 54 closely overlying a portion of the adjacent plate element 26near the notch or cut-away 46. Each of the plate elements 26 is furtherprovided with a pair of upstanding pins 56, one on each side of itscorresponding pin 54 on handle 48.

As will be obvious, the handles 48 may be manually rotated about theiraxes, thus swinging pins 54 on an arc. The pins 54 engage the pins 56 tothereby effect sliding movement of the plate elements 26 in eitherdirection, as indicated by the double-headed arrows. Thus it will beobvious that the handles 48 may be employed by the operator to supportand manipulate the tile setting device and while the device is beingmanipulated or moved about the operator may rotate handles 48 in themanner described, to clamp or release the side edges of a group of tilesthereon. As is evident from FIG. 2, the thumb-engaging portions 24 ofthe clamp element 8 are located in close proximity to the handles 48whereby the operator may reach out with his thumbs, while still holdingthe device by the handles 48, and depress the thumb portions 24 tothereby swing the clamp element 8 about its pivot 10, against the actionof compression springs 20, and withdraw its flange 18 rearwardly tothereby release any tiles on the front face of plate 2.

To operate the device thusfar described, assuming that the wall to betiled has already been provided with a layer of mastic, the operator mayplace the device on any suitable support with its front face 4 upward sothat it rests on the lower edge of the clamp element 8 and the ends ofhandles 48. In this position the front face 4 is generally horizontalbut slopes downwardly toward its bottom edge. Prior to so placing thedevice, the handles 48 would be rotated to move the flanges 38 and ears46 outwardly away from edges 28 of plate 2. The operator may then selectand place tiles 42 on the front face 4, with their rear faces uppermost,until the desired group of tiles has been arranged. Thereupon theoperator may grasp handles 48 and rotate them in a direction to move theflanges 38 and ears 40 inwardly into snug gripping engagement with thesides of the group of tiles. While still urging the handles to rotate inthe described clamping direction, the operator may lift the entiredevice, carry the tiles to the wall to be tiled, and press the entiregroup of tiles against the mastic closely adjacent previously set tilesthereon. The group of tiles would first be placed in approximateposition against the wall and lowered until flange 18 engages theuppermost lugs 44 on the tiles already set therebelow and then thumbpieces 24 are depressed to withdraw flange 18 and the group of tiles maythen be pushed downwardly into direct and intimate con tact with thelugs on the tiles therebelow, The entire group of tiles may then bemoved laterally so that their laterally projecting lugs 44 engage theside edges of tiles already in place (or other border device), afterwhich the entire device is pressed firmly toward the wall to press thetiles securely onto the mastic. Since the front face of the plate 2 isfiat and planar, the front or outer faces of the tiles will all bealigned in coplanar relation on the wall. Thereafter, the handles 48 arerotated in a direction to release the tiles grouped thereby and theapparatus is withdrawn from the wall leaving the group of tiles in placethereon. It is to be noted that the flanges 38 and cars 40 are of lessthickness than the length of the lugs 44 so that the flanges 33 may bemoved a short distance outwardly from their tile-holding position, allwithin the space provided between adjacent tiles by the lugs 44.

he specific structure shown and described in connection with FIGS. 1through 4 contemplates tiles 42 having the spacing lugs 44 as described.However, it may be desirable at times to set tiles that are not providedwith the spacing lugs described but which have only straightunobstructed edges. The apparatus of FIGS. 5 and 6 contemplates thehandling of such plain tiles. Much of the structure in FIGS. 5 and 6 isidentical to that described in connection with FIG. 2 and those elementsbear the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1-4.

In the modification of FIGS. 5 and 6, plates 60 are slidably mounted onthe back of the base plate 2 adjacent opposite side edges 26 thereof.The plates 60 are mounted in a manner similar to the plates 26 of FIG. 2in that they are slidably supported on the base by bolts 32, washers 33and nuts 36, the same as shown in FIG. 4. The bolts 32 pass throughslots 30 in the plates 60, as shown in detail in FIG. 6. Unlike theplates 26 of FIG. 3, the plates 60 do not extend past the edges 28 ofthe base and are not provided with the flanges 38, previously described.The plates 66 terminate in outer edges 62 spaced inwardly from the edges28 of the base. The plates 60, however, are provided with the pins 56cooperating with the pin 54 of the rotatable handles 48.

Each of the plates 60 is provided with upturned ears 64 constitutingbrackets supporting a pivot rod 66. Each of the pivot rods 66 pivotallysupports a flanged plate member 63 for pivotal movement about an axis,defined by the rod 66, substantially parallel tothe adjacent edge 23 ofthe base 2. Each of the flanged plates 68 is provided with a continuousflange '70 at its outer extremity outwardly of the adjacent edge 28 ofthe base. The flanged plates 68 are provided with openings 72 about thehandles 43 whereby the plates 68 may be tilted about their axes withoutinterference from the handles 48. Each of the plates 68 is furtherprovided with an extending portion 74 having a depression therein andconstituting a thumb piece. A compression spring 76 (see FIG. 6) isarranged between each plate 66 and its associated flanged plate 68 onthe inner side of the rod 66 whereby to normally urge the plate 63 tothe full line position of FIG. 6 wherein the flange 7 0 projectsforwardly of the front face of the base 2.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be used either with tileshaving the spacing lugs 44, previously described, or with tiles havingno spacing lugs thereon. Obviously, the plates 68 may be left in theirforwardly projected position and the apparatus may be employed inexactly the manner described in connection with FIGS. 1 through 4. It isto be noted that rotation of the handles 43 effects lateral slidingmovement of the plates 60 and the flanged plates 68 as a unit. Whenemploying the device of FIG. 5 for setting tiles having no spacing lugs44, the tiles are first arranged on the face of the base member 2 withsuitable means therebetween to elfect the proper spacing between thetiles of the group. It is common to employ cord for this purpose. Thehandles 48 may then be rotated to move the flanges 70 inwardly and thusfirmly grip the group of tiles. Thereafter the assembly may be placedagainst the mastic on the wall with the flange 70 abutting previouslylaid tiles and thus providing the proper spacing for the group of tilesbeing set. When the tiles have been moved to the proper position on thewall, the thumb pieces 74 may be pushed forwardly by the hands stillholding handles 48 to withdraw flanges 70 to the dotted line position ofFIG. 6 and thereafter pivotal movement of the plate 8 to withdraw thelower flange 13 will permit withdrawal of the apparatus from the groupof tiles, leaving the latter adhered to the mastic and in proper spacedrelation to previously set tiles.

The embodiments of the invention shown in both FIGS. 2 and 5 are furtherprovided with latch means to facilitate operation thereof. By referenceto FIGS. 5 and 6, the inner portion of flanged plate 68 is provided witha slot or opening 50 therethrough adjacent the handle 48. A latchelement 82 is pivotally supported on the slide plate 60 below the slotor opening 80. A tension spring 8d normally urges the latch 82 to rotatein a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 6. The uppermost end of thelatch 82 is provided with a head 86 having a latching shoulder 83 and acam edge 90. When the plate 68 is pivoted about its axis es by pushingforwardly on the thumb portion 74, an end of the slot 80 engages the camedge 90 of the latch 82 to swing the latter counterclockwise against theaction of spring 84 until shoulder S8 of the latch snaps over the uppersurface of plate 68 adjacent the opening 80. Thereafter, the thumbportion 74 may be released and the latch 32 thereupon holds the plate 68in its retracted position. In this manner the plates 68 may be firstmanipulated to retract their flanges and when latched in retractedpositions the pivoted plate 8 may be manipulated to retract its flange18 in the manner previously described. The plate 8 is also provided witha latch like that described in connection with FIG. 6 but the latchcooperating with plate 8 must, of course, be pivoted to the base plate2. The latch cooperating with plate 8 is indicated in FIG. 5 by thereference numeral designating the head 86 thereof. The pivoted plate 8of FIG. 2 is likewise provided with a latch, which may be identical tothat described in connection with FIG. 5. In FIG. 2 that latch is alsodesignated by the numeral indicating the head 86 thereof.

While the illustrated embodiments suggest a base plate 2 that isperfectly square, it is to be understood that the base plate may be ofany desired shape corresponding to the general outline of a group oftiles to be set thereby. Reference hereafter to a rectangular base plateis intended to include the square shape also and other equivulentshapes.

When it is desired to employ the device of the present invention withtiles of slightly different dimensions, it is only necessary to replacethe slidaole plate elements 26 of FIG. 2 or the slidable assemblies ofFIG. 5 with similar elements of different dimensions and the device maythus be adapted to handle tiles of different sizes.

The description herein is intended to be merely illustrative of theprinciples of the invention, which is not limited thereto. The inventionencompasses all modifications falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A tile setting device comprising; a base plate having anuninterrupted front face adapted to support a plurality of tilesthereon, tile holding means mounted on the rear face of said base plate,said tile holding means comprising a plurality of movable structuresrespectively mounted near edges of said base plate which are adjacenteach other each having a thin rigid flange extending outwardly of itsadjacent edge of said base plate and then forwardly past said front faceto engage the edges of adjacent tiles on said front face, and manuallyoperable means on said rear face for selectively moving said structuresto withdraw said flange means from holding engagement with said tiles.

2. A tile setting device as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one ofsaid structures is an element pivoted on the rear face of said baseplate on an axis substantially parallel to but spaced inwardly from theedge past which 6 its flange extends, and spring means urging saidelement about said axis in a direction to hold its flange intileengaging position.

3. A tile setting device as defined in claim 2 wherein I said oneelement is provided with a manually engageable portion for retractingsaid flange against the action of said spring means.

4. A tile setting device as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one ofsaid flanges comprises spaced ears extending past said front face ofsaid base plate and arranged to engage the edges of adjacent tilesbetween laterally extending spacer lugs thereon.

5. A tile setting device as defined in claim 1 wherein a pair of saidstructures include plates slidably mounted on said rear face of saidbase plate, flanged plates pivotally mounted on said slidable plates onaxes parallel to op posite side edges of said base plate and with theirrespective flanges etxending past said opposed side edges, each of saidslidable plates being slidably mounted for movement in a directiongenerally parallel to said front face of said base plate andperpendicular to said opposed edges.

6. A tile setting device comprising; a base plate having a front faceadapted to support a plurality of tiles thereon, tile holding meansmounted on the rear face of said base plate, said tile holding meansincluding an element slidably mounted on said rear face of said baseplate for movement generally parallel to said front face andperpendicular to an adjacent edge of said base plate, flanged meanspivotally mounted on said element with its flange outwardly of said edgeand extending past said front face, a handle journalled on said rearface on an axis generally perpendicular to said base plate, and meansinterconnecting said handle and said element so that rotation of saidhandle effects sliding movement of said element.

7. A tile setting device comprising; a base plate having a front faceadapted to support a plurality of tiles thereon, a handle and tileholding means mounted on the rear face of said base plate, said tileholding means including an element pivoted on said rear face on an axisgenerally parallel to an adjacent edge of said base plate, flange meanson said element extending past said adjacent edge and forwardly of saidfront face, spring means urging said element about said axis in adirection to hold said flange in its forward position, said elementhaving a portion thereof on the side of said axis opposite said flangeand adjacent said handle whereby forward pressure on said portionretracts said flange rearwardly against the action of said spring means.

8. A tile setting device comprising; a base plate having a front faceadapted to support a plurality of tiles thereon, a handle and tileholding means mounted on the rear face of said base plate, said tileholding means including an element pivotally supported on an axisgenerally parallel to an adjacent edge of said base plate, flange meanson said element extending past said adjacent edge and forwardly of saidfront face, spring means urging said element about said axis in adirection to hold said flange in its forward position, said elementhaving a portion thereof on the side of said axis opposite said flangeand adjacent said handle whereby forward pressure on said portionretracts said flange rcarwardly against the action of said spring means,and a releasable spring latch engageable with said portion, when saidflange is retracted, to hold said flange in retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent' UNITED STATES PATENTS1,014,079 McKay et al Jan. 9, 1912 1,308,021 Allen July 1, 19192,040,574 Sutcliffe May 12, 1936 2,531,862 Schneider Nov. 28, 19502,630,702 Pizzani Mar. 10, 1953 2,652,714 Sommers Sept. 22, 19532,657,571 Loose Nov. 3, 1953

